Spousal Support

Spousal support is financial support given to a former spouse after a legal separation or divorce. It is sometimes referred to as alimony. There are several forms of spousal support including rehabilitative, transitional, and long term. Rehabilitative spousal support provides a former spouse with temporary support to return to school or to obtain vocational training, so that the supported spouse can become self-supporting. Transitional spousal support is not often awarded for more than two years, and it is to be used to help the supported spouse adjust to a single life. Long term alimony is rarely awarded in marriages lasting less than 20 years and provides the supported spouse with ongoing payments. Many factors are considered by the court in determining if spousal support is required and to determine the length of time it may be awarded. Some of those factors include age, health, means of support, education, current earning capacity, length of marriage and prior agreements.